The Best Dungeons and Dragons Books in 2025

Dungeons & Dragons is experiencing a remarkable resurgence in popularity, fueled by factors like the Stranger Things phenomenon, the successful Honor Among Thieves movie, and the explosive popularity of Baldur's Gate 3. This makes it an ideal time for newcomers to join the adventure. However, navigating the wealth of 5th Edition (5E) content, especially from third-party creators, can be daunting. This guide focuses primarily on official Wizards of the Coast publications, excluding the essential Player's Handbook, Dungeon Master's Guide, and Monster Manual (updated in 2024), assuming you already possess these core rulebooks. If not, acquire them first.

First-Party Content Recommendations:

• Player’s Handbook Core Rulebook: $49.99 at Amazon

• Dungeon Master’s Guide Core Rulebook: $49.99 at Amazon

• Monster Manual Core Rulebook: $49.99 at Amazon

• Xanathar’s Guide to Everything (Sourcebook): A crucial sourcebook (2017) offering expanded player options (subclasses, racial feats, spells), GM tools (trap building), and optional rules. Highly beneficial for players seeking diverse character options.

• Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything (Sourcebook): Similar to Xanathar's, this expands player options (class features, spells) and offers GM tools (sidekicks, hazards, monster interactions). Enhances class diversity.

• Waterdeep: Dragon Heist (Adventure): A roleplaying-focused adventure emphasizing intrigue and social encounters, offering multiple antagonists for replayability. A great alternative to standard dungeon crawls. Its sequel, Waterdeep: Dungeon of the Mad Mage, provides a contrasting dungeon-crawl experience.

• Planescape: Adventures in the Multiverse (Sourcebook/Adventure Bundle): Explores the Planescape setting with a setting book (Sigil and the Outlands), monster manual (Morte’s Planar Parade), and adventure (Turn of Fortune’s Wheel). A comprehensive and impressive expansion.

• Phandelver and Below: The Shattered Obelisk (Adventure): A massive expansion to The Lost Mine of Phandelver, returning to Phandalin with a cosmic horror twist involving Mind Flayers. A unique and nostalgic campaign.

• Eberron: Rising from the Last War (Sourcebook/Adventure): A unique setting with airships, floating castles, and Dragonmarks, offering roleplaying and swashbuckling opportunities. Includes a campaign set in the Mournland.

• Dragonlance: Shadow of the Dragon Queen (Adventure): Introduces the Dragonlance setting, focusing on large-scale combat encounters with dragons and Lord Soth.

• Curse of Strahd (Adventure): A gothic horror classic featuring vampires and creepy elements. Van Richten’s Guide to Ravenloft offers supplementary material.

• The Wild Beyond the Witchlight (Adventure): A Feywild adventure with a carnival setting, emphasizing roleplaying and multiple solutions. Includes new playable species and backgrounds.

Notable Third-Party Content (Brief Mentions):

• Strongholds and Followers (MCDM Productions): Adds rules for player bases and NPCs.
• Flee, Mortals!/Where Evil Lives (MCDM Productions): Redesigned and new monsters, plus a dungeon.
• Tome of Beasts/Creature Codex (Kobold Press): Extensive monster manuals, particularly useful for high-level play.
• Grim Hollow (Ghostfire Gaming): A dark fantasy setting.

This list provides a strong foundation for your D&D journey. Let us know your thoughts and favorite additions in the comments!